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Jennifer Lawrence is in the running for both best actress and best supporting actress

And real-life piracy thriller Captain Phillips has an equal number of nominations to action movie The Hunger Games: Catching Fire.

Both films are in the running for five awards, while Captain Phillips director Paul Greengrass will also pick up an inspiration prize.

The award is in recognition of his work on films like The Bourne Supremacy, Bloody Sunday and United 93; and the kinetic, roving camera style he has helped popularise.

This year's shortlist sees the introduction of best supporting actor and actress categories, with 12 Years A Slave stars Michael Fassbender and Lupita Nyong'o among those in the running, along with The Hobbit's Richard Armitage and Evangeline Lilly.

Jennifer Lawrence, meanwhile, gets a nomination for her scene-stealing turn in American Hustle, alongside a best actress nomination for The Hunger Games.

Sci-fi thriller Gravity received four nominations, including best film, best director and best actress, for Sandra Bullock.

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Sandra Bullock and Chiwetel Ejiofor are also front-runners for the Oscars this weekend

The awards will be presented at a star-studded ceremony in London on Sunday, 30 March. The public can vote for the shortlisted nominees at the Empire website.

Last year's big winner was Bond movie Skyfall, which received best film and best director for Sam Mendes, while Dame Helen Mirren was handed the Empire Legend award.

Accepting her trophy, the star said: "You sort of think, 'Really? Do I have to be a legend already? Can't they wait 20 odd years and then make me a legend?